Azim Premji: The man who foresaw India's potential strength in IT much before others

Azim Premji: The man who foresaw India's potential strength in IT much before others

The colour of money changed like never before. Businessmen moved from the rogues' gallery to the level of movie stars.

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Rohit Saran

December 25, 2000

ISSUE DATE: December 25, 2000

UPDATED: November 21, 2012 18:04 IST

When you meet a billionaire for the first time, you expect him to do something billionairish. Like attending to his continuously buzzing cell-phones. Talking big ideas, big money. And displaying it through flashy cars and expensive clothes.

But Azim Premji - estimated personal wealth $35 billion, or Rs 1,50,000 crore - does none of that. In fact the only power he emits is to the meaning of the term self-effacing.

BRICKS TO CLICKS: The symbol of India's economic might has shifted from business houses like the Birlas (left) to the cyber sultans

The chairman of Wipro Corporation is both embarrassed and dismissive of being rated among the five richest persons in the world and the richest Indian ever.

Wipro shares with a face value of Rs 2 touched Rs 9,600 last week. Though Premji may not be an icon of the new economy that's characterised by instant millionaires, he foresaw India's potential strength in IT much before others.

Wipro's success brings out the fact that when there is transparency the market is willing to recognise it and pay for it.